Folding car-step



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

S. R. HAMILTON.

FOLDING GAR STEP.

No. 587,479. Patented Aug. 3,1897.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. R. HAMILTON.

FOLDING GAR STEP.

Patented Aug. 3,1897.

' AS: ZZ/[am lift) 72 attozM- UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

SAMUEL R. HAMILTON, OF FARMERSVILLE, TEXAS.

FOLDING CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 587,479, dated August3, 1897.

Application filed May 11, 189 7. Serial No. 636,058. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL R. HAMILTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Farmersville,in the county of Collin and State of Texas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Oar-Steps;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of theinvention,such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to steps for railway-cars; and theobject is toprovide a supplemental folding step which may be lowered into positionfor use when passengers are boarding or leaving a car and which may befolded back out of the way when the train is about to leave the station;furthermore, to provide simple and strong means for actuating the step,and, finally,to provide a con struction which shall be simple, durable,and inexpensive.

With these objects in view the invention consists of certain features ofconstruction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fullyset forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of a portion of arailway-car illustrating the application of my invention, showing thestep swung back out of use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the stepadjusted for use. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one form of my improvedcurved bracket, and Fig. 4 is a similar view of another form. Fig. 5 isa front view of the permanent or fixed steps, showing the manner ofconnecting the folding step thereto and showing at the right the actuating-lever detached.

In said drawings, 1 denotes the fix'ed or permanent ordinary steps of arailway-coach; 2, the iron frame of the folding step, and 3 the tread ofthe step, which is secured to the frame by bolts 4. The arms 5 of theframes are fixed to a square portion 6 of a shaft 7, which is supportedin bearings 8, secured to the side pieces of the permanent steps. Oneend of the shaft 7 has a square portion 8, to which is secured the endof a lever 9. Two of the opposite sides of this square portion of theshaft are slightly beveled to allow of a lateral movement of the leverfor a purpose hereinafter to appear.

1O denotes the curved bracket, which is secured to one of the sidepieces of the permanent steps by bolts or any other suitable means, andconsists of two parallel portions (1 and b, the former of which has nearits ends two apertures c and d.

In the form of bracket shown in Fig. 3 the holes are round and areadapted to receive a round stud e, projecting laterally from the lever.Springs f are secured to the parallel piece 1) of the bracket, and whenthis lever is moved either to lower the step into position or to swingit back out of position the lever strikes one or the other of saidsprings, and as it rides along the same and the stud thereon comesopposite one of the holes in the bracket the spring will force the studinto said hole and hold it therein. This result is accomplished byreason of beveling the square end of the shaft to permit of the rockingsidewise of the lever.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 I have made the holes in the bracketrectangular in outline, and have formed the stud on the lever with anundercut g to form a head h, so that when said stud passes through thehole at either end of the bracket it engages a corresponding shouldero'. By this construction it will be impossible for the lever to jar andthe stud thereon to disengage the hole. The spring shown in thismodified form consists of one piece instead of two, as is shown in Fig.3, and the center or intermediate portion of the spring is enlarged toinsure it against breakage.

hen the train reaches a station and it is desired to unload or take 011passengers, the lever is depressed, which movement throws thesupplemental step inposition for use. When the train is about to leaveon its journey, the lever is raised and locked in position. Thismovement throws the step under and upward out of the way, so as not tocome in contact with any structure or obstacle that may be along theside of the track.

Although I have specifically described the construction and relativearrangement of the several elements of my invention, I do not desire tobe confined to the same, as such changes or modifications may be made asclearly fall within the scope of my invention without-departing from thespirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination with the ordinary steps of a railway-car, of a shaftjournaled thereto, said shaft having a square end, two of the oppositesides of which are beveled, a supplemental step fixed to said shaft, abracket secured to one of the sides of the ordinary steps and providedwith holes near its ends, a lever fitted to the square ends of saidshaft and having a laterally-rocking movement, said lever being providedwith a stud to engage the holes in the bracket and lock the step indesired position, and a spring secured to the bracket for rocking thelever laterally and forcing the stud into the holes, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination With the ordinary steps of a railway-oar, of a shaftjournaled thereto, said shaft having a square end, two of the oppositesides of which are beveled, a supplemental step fixed to said shaft, abracket secured to one of the sides of the ordinary steps and providedwith square holes near its ends, said holes having shoulders, a leverfitted to the square ends of said shaft and having a laterally-rockingmovement, said lever being provided with a stud to engage the holes inthe bracket, said stud being provided with an undercut to form lateralshoulders to engage the shoulders of the holes, and a spring secured tosaid bracket for forcing the lever laterally and the stud into the holesof the bracket, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

SAMUEL R. HAMILTON. lVitnesscs:

O. C. J. ASTON, VVILLIAM K. BRADFORD.

